Fence posts

ABSTRACT

Fence post (50) of a fence (100) of grid boards (20) comprising narrow, upright grid boards with upright rods (11, 12) and brackets (10) connecting these rods, which brackets project over the front side (13) of the fence post (50) with their free ends (3&#39;). The grid boards (20) lie with horizontal rods (2, 2) on the projecting ends (3&#39;). The projecting ends (3&#39;) form retaining elements (3) in the form of hooks that fasten the grid boards (20) at the front side (13) of the fence posts (50).

The invention relates to a fence post for enclosing or limiting purposesof rigid grid boards forming the fence surface, the boards being made ofintersecting rods which are connected to one another at the intersectionpoints.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fence post of this type is known from EP 472 760 A1. This fence postcomprises a narrow, upright grid board having vertical rods at bothedges and connecting, short, straight, horizontal rods connecting thevertical rods in a ladder-like fashion. At least a few of these rodsproject forward over the vertical grid rods that form the front side ofthe fence post and are bent around upward in a hook-like manner. Thegrid boards that form the fence surfaces are laid into these hooks andare retained by screws in the hooks.

A similar fence post is known from DE 39 20 108 C1. The vertical gridrods of the fence post are also connected by means of ladder-like,short, straight, horizontal grid rods from which at least a few projectforward over the front side of the fence post where they are bent intoeyes that are disposed in horizontal planes in a certain distance fromthe front side. The grid boards that form the fence surface are laid onthe projecting ends of the horizontal grid rods of the fence post andare fixed by means of a vertical, rod-shaped retaining element extendedthrough the eyes. In this specific embodiment, all of the upright gridrods of the fence post can be vertical; yet it is also possible that thefence post becomes wider toward the bottom to increase the stability.

In both known specific embodiments, the vertical grid rods of the fencepost can be arranged to be directly opposite one another as double rodsat both sides of the horizontal grid rods.

It is difficult to handle the numerous short, horizontal rods forcompiling the above known fence posts in machine production of the fenceposts by means of resistance spot welding because the hooks or eyes atthe horizontal rods are bent prior to welding and the horizontal rodsmust be welded in a specified rotated position.

Further, the known fence posts are problematic because on their sideopposite to the grid board that forms the fence surface many, fairlysharp, freely accessible edges are present by the ends of the horizontalgrid rods, which edges can lead to injuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve a fence post of this type withregard to its production and safety from injury.

By means of the embodiment as a bracket, two shanks that are adjacent toone another in elevation form a one-piece part, which on the one hand islarger and only insofar allows simplified handling in contrast to theindividual horizontal grid rods of fence posts of the related art, andon the other hand, exhibits a two-dimensional extension such that theprojecting ends are always correctly oriented with regard to theirdesign as retaining elements without particular effort and difficultiesfrom accidental rotation of the horizontal rods about their longitudinalaxes are eliminated.

On the side opposite the fence surface, hence the web side of thebracket, the bracket is closed and free of ends that form sharp edgessuch that the risk of injuries is substantially less.

Component of the invention is that the upright rods of the fence postare only provided on one side of the brackets, however, in the preferredspecific embodiment, the upright rods are provided on both sides of thebrackets in pairs directly opposite one another, to increase the bendingstrength of the fence post.

The upright rods can diverge downward away from one another in order toincrease the base of the fence post and its stability perpendicular tothe fence surface.

The preferred specific embodiment, however, provides for upright rodsparallel to one another because this accommodates the production of thefence post on an automatic grid welding machine.

For stress on a fence post consisting of grid material, whose connectionrods extend essentially horizontally, the forces that arise arepredominantly received by means of a shearing stress of the weld points.

To form the stress more favorably and to achieve a type of lattice-workeffect, the feature of one shank not extending horizontally is desired.

At least one of the shanks of the bracket should thus extend against thefence surface at an upward or downward angle. A fence post with alattice-work effect is the object of DE-PS 22 20 683, wherein theupright grid rods, however, do not lie in vertical planes perpendicularto the fence surface, rather they exist in a triangle when viewed in ahorizontal projection. Triangular wire brackets are wrapped aroundoutside the vertical grid rods of the fence post in alternating anglesof orientation and this configuration is then welded. This type of fencepost is not suitable for automatic production.

The bracket according to the invention can be bent to be U-shaped orV-shaped, wherein they can be configured symmetrically particularly to ahorizontal plane.

If the grid boards exhibit horizontal rods, they lie with the latter onthe projecting ends of the brackets. Mostly, the grid boards in practiceare rectangular grids with a vertical separation of 200 mm and ahorizontal separation of 50 mm.

Fixing the grid boards on the ends of the brackets can also be achieved,which method is taken from the object of the not previously published DEP 43 39 266 (0-25).

In most cases, the grid rods are round rods because they are the easiestto produce and to handle.

Flat profiles can also be considered as grid rods, which profiles arevertical with their larger dimension on the grid plane, for example,rectangular profiles or ovals or elliptical profiles. Such grid rodsincrease the bending strength of the grid board and can save the use ofdouble rods in some cases. A practical type of fastening of the gridboards on the posts is also provided. The fastening piece presses thegrid board into the diagonal member of a free end and is thus proppedagainst the free end above. It is sufficient if one of this type offastening piece is provided per post.

The fastening piece is bent in its initial condition and is brought intoan extended fastening condition by tightening the screw. Thus, it workslike a knee lever and presses the horizontal rods of the grid board withgreat force from above against the lower free end of a bracket shank.

So that the fastening piece does not slip, a rounded out recess at theupper edge is recommended.

To achieve a safe support on the top side of the horizontal rods, awidened base perpendicular to the grid board is recommended.

In the preferred specific embodiment, the fastening piece comprises aprofile section as flat steel that can exhibit a hole in the middle forthe penetration of the screw. The hole forms a weakening of thecross-section and thus a set deformation point, which ensures that thefastening piece arches or buckles at the desired point.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a fence post, wherein the fence surface isthus perpendicular to the drawing plane;

FIG. 2 shows a view in accordance with FIG. 1 from the right;

FIG. 3 shows a section along line III--III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a shows a corresponding section through a modified specificembodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an individual bracket;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show views in accordance with FIG. 4 from the right andfrom the top, respectively;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show side views corresponding to FIG. 1 with severalvariation options of the shape of the brackets;

FIG. 9 shows a side view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a post with afastening piece in its unfastened state;

FIG. 10 shows a view in accordance with FIG. 9 from the right;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the fastening piece already used inFIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 9 in the fastened state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fence, which is indicated in its entirety as 100 in FIG. 1,comprises rectangular grid boards 20, which form the fence surface andwhich are held along the length of the fence by spaced fence posts 50.Grid boards 20 consist of vertical grid rods 1 and pairs of horizontalgrid rods 2 which reinforce grid boards 20 and which are configured atequal level of grid rods 1 on both sides of the latter. At the crosspoints, grid rods 1 and 2 are connected together on a grid weldingmachine using resistance welding. Grid boards 20 are subjected to thecommon measures of corrosion protection such as galvanizing and/or powercoating after completion of the welding procedure. The separation ofgrid boards 20 can, for example, be 200 mm high and 50 mm horizontally,wherein the diameter of the grid rods is 6 mm in the exemplaryembodiment.

Fence posts 50 comprise vertical grid rods 11 and 12, from which gridrods 12 the "front side" 13 of respective fence post 50, i.e., the sideon which grid boards 20 lie, is formed. At the upper end 12', grid rods12 are bent back by 180° to prevent the risk of injury. Vertical gridrods 11, 12 are each configured in pairs behind one another parallel tothe fence surface, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and are connected toone another by means of brackets 10 disposed in between, which bracketslie in a vertical plane perpendicular to the fence surface.

Instead of double rods 11, 11 and 12, 12, rods 11", 12" can also be of aflat profile, which only need to be arranged on one side, as is shown inFIG. 3a. The flat profile is on the grid plane with its extension"edge-wise", i.e., on the plane of fence post 50 in this case. Inaddition to the rectangular profile shown, which is rounded off on bothends, other cross-sections are considered that increase the bendingstrength without enlarging the width.

Brackets 10, in accordance with FIG. 1, are bent to be V-shaped andexhibit straight shanks 10', which are arranged symmetrically to ahorizontal plane 4 going through the bending peak 3". At a point 10"flush against the inside of vertical grid rods 12, shanks 10' are bentagainst one another and form horizontal ends 3' that extend forward oververtical grid rods 12, which ends are bent upward to a hook 3, in whichgrid boards 20 are laid with one pair of horizontal grid rods 2 each.

At the cross positions of vertical grid rods 11 and 12, brackets 10 arewelded with these vertical grid rods 11 and 12. For welding and thesubsequent corrosion protection as well as the diameter of the gridrods, the information already present on grid boards 20 applies. Theweld points are indicated by 6 for upper-most bracket 10 in FIG. 1.

Brackets 10 are equal and are configured such that the separation ofprojecting ends 3' is constant along the height, i.e., that the distanceof projecting ends 3' of bracket 10 is exactly as great as the distancefrom lower projecting end 3' of bracket 10 as to upper projecting end 3'of bracket 10 located below it.

In the exemplary embodiment given, this separation is 100 mm, i.e., halfof the vertical separation of grid boards 20. The purpose thereof is tobe able to make staged adjustments for slanted ground. In thisembodiment, every other projecting end 3' remains free with hook 3formed thereon.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that with a minimum of material use, a postis achieved that is designed essentially as a plane component that isthus suitable for the production on automatic grid welding machines,which post exhibits an optimal lattice-work reinforcement in thevertical plane lying perpendicular to the fence plane.

The production of the fence post on the grid welding machine issimplified because two shanks 10' connecting vertical grid rods 11, 12always form a one-piece part and the hooks positioned at both projectingends 3' exhibit a correct orientation as specified, i.e., they cannotrotate in the grid welding machine about axes running perpendicular tothe fence plane.

In the assembly of the fence, grid boards 20 are hung in hooks 3. Thefastening of the grid boards in hooks 3 is as is desired. In theexemplary embodiment illustrated, a particularly simple fastening thatcontinually suppresses vibrations is given, which fastening isessentially based on the formation of the hook. The projecting ends 3'of brackets 10 are bent to upright eyes 53, which extend essentiallyparallel to the fence surface. The free end 54 of eye 53, however, nolonger extends parallel to the fence surface, rather it is slanteddownward against front side 13 of post 50, which front side 13 is formedby means of the front side of grid rods 12. Free end 54 extends downwardto the level of projecting end 3', to which it is bent. Free end 54extends essentially straight downward against front side 13 and forms adiagonal member 5.

This is to be measured in its position relative to front side 13 suchthat distance 14 corresponding to the "thickness" of the grid boards(FIG. 1) is achieved approximately at the half level of eye 53, suchthat grid boards 20 do not lower down to projecting ends 3' when hung inhooks 3, but rather remain hanging approximately at this half level andcan only be drawn or pushed to projecting end 3' under elastic tensionof free end 54. In this position, free end 54 creates a tension of gridboards 20 against front side 13 of fence post 50 by means of itwedge-like effect.

The tension is maintained in the exemplary embodiment by means of asuppression retainer 15, which comprises a U-shaped bracket 55 graspingunder projecting end 3' having threaded shanks 55', which bracketextends through between horizontal rods 2,2 of grid board 20, which rodslie on projecting end 3'. A U-profile lies on horizontal rods 2,2, whichprofile is screwed on by means of the nuts 57 screwed onto threadedshank 55'. In this way, horizontal rods 2,2 are held down on projectingends 3'. Suppression retainers 15 need not be attached to all horizontalrods 2,2.

Variations of the bracket shape are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Theshanks of these brackets are also placed in a plane between the uprightgrid rods 11, 12 mounted on both sides.

A V-shaped configuration is given for bracket 30, wherein upper shank30' extends horizontally, lower shank 30" is aligned downward againstfront side 13 of post 50 at approximately a 40° angle.

The variation of a bracket 40 is shown in FIG. 7 as the dashed line,lower shank 40' is horizontal and upper shank 40" extends upward againstfront side 13 at an angle of approximately 40°.

In a variation illustrated in FIG. 8 in which bracket 60 is notV-shaped, rather U-shaped, web 60" or the base of the "U" extends almostin a semi-circle and connects the essentially horizontal shank 60' withone another.

For the specific embodiment indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 8, gridrods 12 that form front side 13 of post 50 extend vertically, while reargrid rods 11' are slightly slanted and diverge downward from grid rods12 such that fence post 50 obtains a wider base. Bracket 70 could bebent in this case, such that it, with its web 70", extends just outsideof upright grid rods 11 parallel to the rods.

There are numerous alternatives possible between the sample variationsgiven. Common to all of the specific embodiments is that the retainingelements for horizontal grid rods 2,2 of grid board 20 are formed at theends of the shanks that project over front side 13 of fence post 50 bybrackets bent in a plane, and, in fact, at both shanks.

Instead of using suppression retainer 15, grid board 20 can also befixed to post 50 by means of a fastening piece 80, which is illustratedin FIGS. 9 through 12. Fastening piece 80 is depicted in unfastenedstate in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. Fastening piece 80 comprises a flat steelsection 81 having a U-shaped rounded cut-out 89 on its upper edge, thewidth of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of free end 3'.Approximately in the middle, fastening piece 80 exhibits a throughhole84 for the passage through of threaded screw 85. On the lower end, asupport foot is formed--designated in its entirety by 82--having supportsurface 93, which extends horizontally in the fastening positionperpendicular to the fence surface, as can be seen in FIG. 12. Supportsurface 93 is supported by means of two triangular support members 94 inthe exemplary embodiment. It can also be sufficient, however, if supportsurface 93 is formed simply by means of a forward bend of flat steelsection 81.

Fastening piece 80 is arched or buckled forward in its initial state,wherein the peak is in the area of hole 84 (FIG. 11). For example, sides81', 81" form a 45° angle with one another. In this arched or buckledstate, fastening piece 80 is mounted in the manner seen in FIG. 9. Screw85 is inserted through and lies on top of a plain washer 86 on the frontside of flat steel section 81 in the area of hole 84. The shaft of screw85 grasps through between the two vertical rods 12 of post 50. A plainwasher 87 is provided on the back side of vertical rods 12, which washerlies against the back side of vertical rods 12. When tightening screw 85by means of nut 88, fastening piece 80 extends, wherein it exercises aforce 90 at the upper end in recess 89 from below against upper free end3' and foot 82 effects an equal force 91 from above on the twohorizontal rods 2 of grid board 20, which are thereby pressed down bymeans of diagonal member 5 on the top side of lower free end 3'.

By means of just one screw 85 and a simply configured fastening piece,grid board 20 is securely fastened on post 50 in this manner.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:
 1. A post for afence for enclosing or limiting purposes of a rigid grid forming thefence surface, comprisingintersection portions distributed along theheight of the post equipped with retaining elements provided on thepost, the post including narrow, upright grid rods that are generallyvertical and perpendicular to the fence surface, said grid rods in atleast a first plane and at least one additional rod in a parallel planeadjacent thereto, said additional rod intersecting the upright rods andbeing connected with these upright rods at the intersection portions,said additional rod including two projection portions projecting forwardover the front side of the fence post and forming said retainingelements at a free end of each said projection portion, each saidadditional rod being a bracket configured in a vertical plane, saidbracket having two legs with each said leg forming one said retainingelement at each said free end.
 2. The fence post as defined in claim 1,wherein the upright rods are only provided on one side of the brackets.3. The fence post as defined in claim 1, wherein the upright rods areprovided on both sides of the brackets in pairs directly opposite oneanother.
 4. The fence post as defined in claim 1, wherein the uprightrods diverge downward from one another.
 5. The fence post as defined inclaim 1, wherein the upright rods are parallel to one another.
 6. Thefence post as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one segment of saidbracket does not extend horizontally.
 7. The fence post as defined inclaim 1, wherein the brackets are bent to be U-shaped.
 8. The fence postas defined in claim 1, wherein the brackets are bent to be V-shaped. 9.The fence post as defined in claim 8, wherein the brackets extendsymmetrically to a horizontal plane.
 10. The fence post as defined inclaim 1, wherein the grid boards comprise horizontal rods and thehorizontal rods are supported on at least a few of the ends of thebrackets projecting over the front side of the post.
 11. A post for afence for enclosing or limiting purposes of a rigid grid forming thefence surface, comprisingintersection portions distributed along theheight of the post equipped with retaining elements provided on thepost, the post including narrow, upright grid rods that are generallyvertical and perpendicular to the fence surface, said grid rods in atleast a first plane and at least one additional rod in a parallel planeadjacent thereto, said additional rod intersecting the upright rods andbeing connected with these upright rods at the intersection portions,said additional rod including two projecting portions projecting forwardover the front side of the fence post and forming said retainingelements at a free end of said projecting portion, each said additionalrod being a bracket configured in a vertical plane, said bracket havingtwo legs with each said leg forming one said retaining element at eachsaid free end, said free ends of the brackets projecting over the frontside are bent to an upright eye, the free shank of which forms diagonalmembers directed downward in the bracket plane against the front side ofthe post, whereby a horizontal rod of said fence surface can be wedgedagainst the front side of the post.
 12. The fence post as defined inclaim 11, wherein suppression retainers are provided whereby ahorizontal rod of said fence surface can be pressed down or drawn downon the projecting portions of the brackets.
 13. The fence post asdefined in claim 1, wherein the rods exhibit a flat cross-sectionstanding with its larger dimension perpendicular on the grid plane. 14.A post for a fence for enclosing or limiting purposes of a rigid gridforming the fence surface, comprisingintersection portions distributedalong the height of the post equipped with retaining elements providedon the post, the post including narrow, upright grid rods that aregenerally vertical and perpendicular to the fence surface, said gridrods in at least a first plane and at least one additional rod in aparallel plane adjacent thereto, said additional rod intersecting theupright rods and being connected with these upright rods at theintersection portions, said additional rod including two projectingportions projecting forward over the front side of the fence post andforming said retaining elements at a free end of each said projectingportion, each said additional rod being a bracket configured in avertical plane, said bracket having two legs with each said leg formingone said retaining element at each said free end, at least one oblongfastening piece is provided said fastening piece props itself with itsupper end against an upper free end of said bracket by means of avertical press force from below, said fastening piece is tightened inthe middle area against the front side of the post by means of a screw,and rests with its lower end by means of a vertical press force fromabove adjacent a lower free end.
 15. The fence post as defined in claim14, wherein the fastening piece can be formed by means of the screw froma bracket-like initial condition that is arched and buckled from thefront side of the fence post, into an extended fastening condition. 16.The fence post in claim 14, wherein the fastening piece exhibits arounded out recess at its upper edge to grab under the upper free end.17. The fence post as defined in claim 14, wherein the fastening pieceexhibits a widened foot perpendicular to the grid board at its upperend, whereby said foot rests on the upper side of a horizontal rod ofsaid fence surface.
 18. The fence post as defined in claim 14, whereinthe fastening piece comprises a flat steel section.
 19. The fence postas defined in claim 18, wherein the flat steel section exhibits a holeapproximately in the middle for insertion of the screw.
 20. The fencepost as defined in claim 7, wherein the brackets extend symmetrically toa horizontal plane.